Resources

Clinical Trials & Research

Beaumont launches program for children affected by urinary incontinence

2/6/2014

Incontinence of any kind can be an embarrassing problem for children and their families. To help combat this condition, Beaumont Children’s Hospital has a new physical therapy program for kids affected by bladder or bowel incontinence.

The Get Rid of Wetness, or GROW, program is for children ages 5 to 17. It is being offered at three Beaumont outpatient facilities in Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores and West Bloomfield. The specialized program includes physical therapists trained in pediatric incontinence and is led by Kevin Feber, M.D., a pediatric urologist. This new program was developed by Rehabilitation Services and Beaumont Children’s Hospital.

About 5 to 7 million children in the U.S. are affected by pelvic floor dysfunction, which includes daytime urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, constipation, bowel leakage and bed wetting.

Incontinence can affect boys and girls of any age, but it is not a normal part of everyday life. It may affect a child’s self-esteem and social interactions.

“We use the latest research and treatments to compassionately address each family’s concerns and symptoms,” Dr. Feber explains. “There is hope. We communicate with your child’s physician to ensure complete care, and we evaluate each child to develop an individualized, age-appropriate program to deal with bowel or bladder dysfunction.”

The program involves patient and family education, and noninvasive biofeedback treatment, which focuses on contraction and relaxation of the child’s pelvic floor to learn control of muscles related to incontinence.

“Our program is unique to Southeastern Michigan,” says coordinator and physical therapist, Kristen Maike, adding that it is a collaboration between Beaumont’s pediatric rehabilitation and pelvic floor dysfunction programs.

The therapy requires a doctor’s prescription. The three facilities are open Monday through Friday. Treatment may be covered by health insurance. Social work and counseling services are also available.

Beaumont Children’s Hospital

Beaumont Children’s Hospital doctors provide comprehensive health services for infants, children and adolescents in nearly every medical and surgical subspecialty. Part of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Beaumont Children's Hospital features a team of more than 80 pediatric subspecialists and more than 200 board-certified pediatricians in addition to pediatric nurses and support staff. Facilities include dedicated pediatric units in Royal Oak and at Beaumont Hospital, Troy as well as outpatient locations throughout Metro Detroit. Expert pediatric services include emergency care, hematology-oncology, newborn and pediatric intensive care, pediatric surgery and craniofacial surgery among other specialties. Beaumont Children’s Hospital is a member of the Children’s Hospital Association and is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate in Southeast Michigan. Find out more at www.beaumontchildrenshospital.com, connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beaumontchildrenshospital or call 855-480-KIDS (5437).